Equifax Data Breach
Are you one of the 143 million Americans affected by the Equifax data breach? While it is always important to monitor your credit reports, bank statements, and credit card activity, if you count yourself among the nearly 50% of the U.S. population that was affected by this most recent data breach, you may want visit the FTC's website for helpful tips on additional actions to consider taking to help protect your identity and credit. They have a specific section on the page dedicated to this cyber hack. One of the steps that the FTC recommends victims take is to file your taxes early. The government recommends doing this, as scammers can file taxes using your information in an attempt to claim a tax refund in your name. According to the FTC, "Tax Identity Theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job." Also, the FTC says not to "...believe anyone who calls and says you'll be arrested unless you pay for taxes or debt - e